Liquid removing method

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a laundry apparatus, paper making apparatus or the like wherein the moisture or liquid in the wet laundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like, disposed therein is removed by an electrostatic means that provides a differential in the potential of the moisutre in the laundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like and an electrode means for the moisture to tend to cause the moisture to leave the laundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like and move toward the electrode means. Such electrode means can comprise a suction nozzle which tends to draw a large volume of air through the laundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like adjacent thereto to also tend to direct the moisture from the laundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like toward the electrode means.

ilnite States Patent [191 Candor et al.

[4 1 Sept. 11, 1973- LIQUID REMOVING METHOD [22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1971[21] Appl. No.: 200,255

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No 842,807, July 7,1969, Pat. No.

12/1970 Candor et al.'....,.....' 34/1 3,633,282 1/1972 Candor et al.34/] Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney-James T. Candor etal.

[5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a laundry apparatus, papermaking apparatus or the like wherein the moisture or liquid in the wetlaundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like, disposed therein isremoved by an electrostatic means that provides a differential in thepotential of the moisutre in the laundry, food materials, paper slurryor the like and an electrode means for the moisture to tend to cause themoisture to leave the laundry, food materials, paper slurry or the likeand move toward the electrode means. Such electrode means can comprise asuction nozzle which tends to draw a large volume of air through thelaundry, food materials, paper slurry or the like adjacent thereto toalso tend to direct the moisture from the laundry, food materials, paperslurry or the like toward the electrode means.

23 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBSEPI 1 I975 @757, 426

SHEET 1 or 3 2 L 36 FIGJ PATENTEI] SEPI 7 i973 SHEET 3 0F 3 l LKQUIDREMOVING METHOD This is a division of application, Ser. No. 842,807,filed July 7, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,130.

This application is a Continuation-in-part of copending application,Ser. No. 696,639, filed Jan. 9, 1968, now abandoned, which, in turn, isa Continuation-inpart of its copending patent application, Ser. No.639,354, filed May 18, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,452, which, inturn, is a Continuation-impart of its co-pending U.S. Pat. application,Ser. No. 532,266, filed Mar. 7, 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,136,which, in turn, is a Continuation-impart of its copending U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 219,587, filed Aug. 27, 1962, now U.S. Pat. No.3,238,750. This application is also a Continuation-impart of co-pendingapplications, Ser. No. 748,298, filed July 29, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No.3,491,456; U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 769,155, filed Oct. 21, 1968, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,543,408; and U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 807,539, filed Mar. 17, 1969,now patent No. 3,633,282.

This invention relates to an improved laundry method, and/or to amoisture or liquid bearing material treating method.

Such method for treating liquid or moisture bearing materials may removesuch liquid or moisture for the purpose of dehydrating food materials,paper materials or other materials containing liquids or moisture thatmay be electrostatically treated for various purposes, such as to removesuch liquid or moisture from such materials.

Such liquids may be dielectric or electrically conductive liquids whichmay be electrostatically treated to remove such liquids from thematerials containing them.

These liquids may have different surface tensions than water, ifdesired, to improve the electrostatic removal of the liquids from theirbearing materials.

Such liquids may have different viscosities than water to improve theelectrostatic removal of the liquids from their bearing materials. 1

The liquids may be highly vaporizable and easily removable from theirbearing materials so that such liquids may be almost completely removedfrom their bearing materials by electrostatic means and then the smallremaining portions of such liquids can be vaporized from their bearingmaterials at low temperatures and at small cost.

Such liquids may be easily removable from their bearing materials andcan then be introduced into new bearing materials without substantialloss of liquid.

For example, in paper or other product manufacture, a coalescent orother liquid that need not be vaporized may be substituted for water,and such material may be electrostatically removed from the paperforming material or other materiaL Such removed liquid can then berecirculated into other paper forming material or other material, withor without purification of such liquid before reuse.

This procedure, when used in paper making and other industries, canovercome the objections to high water polution now prevailing againstsuch industries.

Such liquids may be chosen to cause the liquid and its liquid bearingmaterial to become electrostatically charged at one potential byfriction or chemical action and the electrode construction may becharged with an opposite potential to remove such liquid to producepaper, cloth or other textiles. Such liquids may include acrylic acidand derivatives thereof.

Such liquids may be injected into their bearing materials byelectrostatic force pulling or pushing on the liquid on top of thebearing material by reason of a relatively high surface tension of theliquid that will push out and replace the original liquid of thematerial, and, if desired, portions of such replacing or initiallyintroduced liquids may be removed from the bottoms of such bearingmaterials by electrostatic means.

Such liquids may be homogeneously mixed with each other and may beinjected into a bearing material by electrostatic force acting on suchliquids or in any other manner and thereafter these injected liquids maybe separated or stratified into one or more layers in the bearingmaterial. One or more of such separated or stratified layers may beremoved electrostatically at the bottoms of said bearing material. Thehomogeneously mixed liquids may be forced into the bearing materials byelectrostatic forces acting on the surface tensions of such mixedliquids.

in particular, one embodiment of this invention comprises asubstantially air-tight and non-collapsible confining means or structurehaving a rotatable foraminous carriage being adapted to support laundryor the like therein. Means are provided for selectively reducing andmaintaining the air pressure inside the confining means at any selectedpressure below the air pressure outside of the confining means.

In this manner, when the laundry machine is being utilized as a dryingmachine for removing moisture from wet laundry disposed in theforaminous carriage, the moisture in the wet laundry more readilyevaporates in the reduced atmosphere in the confining means than-itwould evaporate if the confining means contained air at normalatmospheric conditions.

By heating the reduced atmosphere in the confining means to atemperature to cause the moisture in the wet laundry to boil, more rapidevaporation is efi'ected without having to raise the temperature thereofto the normal boiling point of the moisture. In this same vein,auxiliary heating means can be dispensed with if the air pressure in theconfining means is lowered to such an extent that the latent heat of thewet laundry is susfficient to cause the moisture to boil at the reducedatmospheric conditions. g 1

When the laundry machine is being utilized to treat laundry with wateror the like, the atmosphere in the confining means can be lowered tosuch an extent that the latent heat of the water causes it to boilwhereby the bubbling action of the boiling water further enhances thetreating of the laundry by the water or the like disposed in the laundrymachine. In this same vein, auxiliary heating means may be utilized tosupplement the raising of the temperature of the water to boil at thereduced air pressure.

in addition, electrostatic means of this invention can be utilized incombination with the previously described suction means or by itself toremove liquid from the wet laundry.

Therefore, it can be seen that at least one of the apparatus of thisinvention can be a washing machine, a drying machine, or a combinationwashing and drying machine and is thus designated as a laundry machinebut may have uses other than operating on laundry and is not to belimited to such use. For example, the same can be utilized for a drycleaning machine, etc.

Further, one of the features of this Continuation-inpart application isto illustrate, describe and claim how certain of the previouslydescribed features of the electrostatic means, with or without thepreviously described suction means, can be utilized in improving themaking or treating electrostatically of liquid or moisture bearingmaterials such as the dehydration of food, making of paper or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved moisture orliquid bearing material treating method, such as for dehydrating offood, for making paper and the like having one or more of the novelfeatures set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent upon areading of this dscription which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of an improved laundry machineof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a reduced cross-sectional view of the machine illustrated inFIG. 1 and is taken on line 2-2 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical nozzle means forthe apparatus of FIGS. 1 or 3 and illustrates the electrode meanstherefor.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates another embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates still anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of a fooddehydrating, paper or other material making apparatus and method of thisinvention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates another embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates still another.embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an improved laundry machine of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral lfl andcomprises an outer frame or casing 11 having an opening 12 for thepassage of laundry and the like into and out of the machine 10.

A substantially air-tight, stationary drum 13 is disposed in the casing11 and is supported therein by suitable supports 1'4. The drum 13 mayhave'any desired configuration other than the spheroidal configurationillustrated, the important feature being that the drum 13 will notcollapse when the air pressure inside the drum 13 is lowered to thedesired pressure in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter described.

The drum 13 has an opening 15 provided therein for the passage oflaundry and the like into and out of the drum 13. A suitable door 16 ishingedly mounted to the drum l3 and is adapted to open and close theopening 15 in the drum 13, the door 16, when in the closed position,being substantially air-tight and non-collapsible.

A foraminous carriage 17 is disposed in the drum 13 and is carried on ashaft 18 passing through the drum l3 and rotatably supported in bearings19 and 20 respectively carried by the drum l3 and the casing 11. In

. this manner, the carriage 17 can be rotated in the drum 13 by a motor21 driving a pulley 22 through a reducer 23, the pulley 22 beinginterconnected to a pulley 24 carried on the shaft 18 by a suitable beltdrive 25 or the like.

The carriage 17 has a plurality of openings 26 passing therethrough, theopenings 26 being large enough to readily permit the passage of water orair or both therethrough.

An opening 27 is formed in one end of the carriage 17 to permit thepassage of laundry into and out of the carriage 17, the opening 27 beingaligned with the openings 15 and 12 provided respectively in the drum 13and casing 11.

Suitable baffles 28 are carried on the inside peripheral surface of thecarriage 17 to lift clothes on the rising side of the carriage 17 as thecarriage rotates.

A suction nozzle 29 is disposed between the carriage 17 and drum 13 andis operatively interconnected to the inlet side of a suitable suctionpump 30 by a conduit means 31.

The suction nozzle 29 has its open end disposed adjacent the outerperipheral surface of the carriage l7 and can extend completely acrossthe carriage 17 or partially across the same, as desired. Further, thenozzle 29 may be movable toward and away from the carriage 17 in any ofthe manners set forth in the co-pending application, U.S. Pat. Ser. No.839,232, filed Sept. 10, 1959, now abandoned, and entitled LaundryMachine.

In any event, the suction pump 30, when operating, is adapted to suckmoisture and air from wet laundry disposed in the carriage 17 directlythrough the foraminous carriage 17 into the nozzle 20 and, thus, intothe inlet side of the pump 30 in a manner more fully describedhereinafter.

The moisture, vapor and air drawn from the drum 13 is forced out of theoutlet side of the pump 30 into a conduit means 32 which decreases incross-sectional area to cause the air delivered by the pump 30 to becompressed in the conduit means 32 and, thereby, give up at least partof its moisture into the conduit means 32.

The moisture present in the conduit means 32 flows downwardly through aconduit 33 into a compartment 34, the bottom of the compartment beinginterconnected to a conduit 35 leading to a drain conduit 36.

A suitable float valve 37 is disposed in the compartment 34 and normallycloses off the conduit 35. However, as the moisture collects in thecompartment 34, the rising level of the moisture floats the float 38upwardly to open the valve 37 and let part of the moisture in thecompartment flow to the drain 36.

In this manner, the compressed air in the conduit 32 does not pass todrain 36 because there is always a certain amount of moisture coveringthe inlet of the conduit 35.

The conduit means 32 lead to a suitable condenser 39 comprising acompartment 40 having a cooling coil 41 disposed therein. Suitablecooling means, such as water and the like can enter the coil 41 throughthe inlet 42 and be expelled out therough the outlet 43.

In this manner, the air being forced into the compartment 30 from theconduit 32, passes over the cooling coil 41 whereby any vapor in the aircondenses and falls to the bottom of the compartment 40, the outlet endof the conduit 32 being disposed above the bottom of the compartment 40to prevent the condensed moisture from entering the conduit 32.

Condensed moisture in the compartment is fed to the conduit '35 by aconduit 44, the end of the conduit 44 disposed in the compartment 40being below the free end of the conduit 32.

After the air passes over the cooling coil 41, the dried air can beexpelled to the atmosphere or vented, as desired.

Altemately, the air can be fed from the cooling chamber 40 through aconduit 45 having an outlet end 46 so positioned for a purposehereinafter described.

A second suction means can be carried by the machine and can comprise asuction nozzle 47 disposed closely adjacent the carriage 17 and insidethe drum 13, the nozzle 47 being interconnected to the inlet side of asuction pump 48 by a conduit 49.

The outlet side of the pump 48 is interconnected to the inlet side of asuction pump 48 by a conduit 49.

The outlet side of the pump 48 is interconnected to the conduit 45 by abranch conduit 50.

The conduits 31 and 49 pass through the drum 13 and have flexiblesealing means 51 connected thereto and to the drum 13 to prevent air andwater leakage from drum 13 into the housing 11.

The interior of the drum 13 is interconnected to the drain conduit 36 bya conduit 52, the conduit 52 having a suitable solenoid operated valve53 therein.

An electrical heater 54 is disposed between the drum 13 and carriage 17and is operated in a conventional manner.

The drum 13 has an opening 55 formed therein which is controlled by avalve member 56 normally urged to the closed position by a spring 57.The valve member 56 is moved to the opened position thereof by theenergization of a solenoid 58.

Another opening 59 is formed in drum 13 adjacent the outlet 46 of theconduit 45, the opening 59 being controlled by a valve member 60normally being urged to its closed position by a spring 61 disposedbetween the valve member 60 and a support 62 adjustably carried on bolts63 attached to the drum 13.

In this manner, the force of the compression spring 61 tending to'holdthe valve member 60 in the closed position thereof can be selectivelyvaried.

Water is adapted to be fed into the drum 13 by a conduit 64 havingconventional valve means 65.

The operation of the laundry machine 10 will now be described. 7

Soiled laundry or the like and soap or detergent are introduced into thecarriage 17 of the laundry machine 10 through the door 15 in aconventional manner.

Thereafter, the door 15 is closed and wash water of i During thiswashing cycle, the solenoid 58 can be op- I erated to open the valvemember 56 so that the washing action can take place with normalatmospheric conditions existing in the drum l3.

Altemately, one feature of this invention can be utilized during thewashing cycle of the laundry machine 10.

In particular, the solenoid 58 can be so actuated that the valve member56 is disposed in sealing relation against the opening 55 in the drum13.

Thereafter, the suction pump 48 is operated to cause the suction nozzle47 to tend to reduce the pressure of the air in the drum 13 below normalatmospheric conditions existing outside the drum 13.

By proper regulation of the force of the compression spring 61 acting onthe valve member 60, the suction means 47 and the valve means 60 permitsthe air pressure inside the drum 13 to be reduced to and maintained at aselected pressure below normal atmospheric pressure.

The amount of reduction of the air pressure in the drum 13 coupled withthe latent heat of the wash water will cause the wash water to boil eventhough the wash water is at approximately Fahrenheit or the like.

It is believed that this boiling action of the wash water during thewash cycle will enhance the dirt removing action of the wash water onthe soiled laundry or the like.

While the heater 54 is illustrated as being in the upper region of thelaundry machine 10 it is to be understood that the heater 54 can bedisposed in the lower region thereof whereby the same will be submergedin the wash water so that the heater 54 can be utilized to heat up ormaintain the temperature of the wash water at a selected temperature sothat the suction means 47 can cause the wash water to continuouslyboilduring the wash cycle.

Altemately another heater could be utilized.

Thereafter, the wash water is drained through the drain 52 by openingthe solenoid valve 53 in a conventional manner and opening the valvemember 56.

Subsequently, one orrnore rinse cycles can be utilized whereby rinsewater is introduced through the conduit 64 in much the same manner asthe wash water and the carriage 17 is rotated to tumble the laundrythrough the rinse water.

During the rinsing cycle it may be desired to also use the suction means47 to reduce the air pressure in the drum 13 below normal atmosphericpressure, and, in combination with the valve means 60, to maintain theair pressure in the drum 13at a selected reduced air pressure. i v 2Thus, the rinse water will also tend to bubble or boil, therinsewatereither being hot itself or being heated by the heater means 54 asdesired.

After the rinse water has been'drained from the drum 13, the laundrymachine 10 is now adapted to perform a drying operation.

After the water has been drained from the drum l3 byopening the valve'means 53, the suction pump 30 is outlet 32 as set forth in theaforementionedco-pending application.

During this drying action, the carriage 17 can be continuously rotatedto continuously bring new accumulations of clothes adjacent to thesuction nozzle 29.

However, while the suction nozzle 29 is removing moisture'from the wetlaundry, the valve means 56 can be closed and the-suction means 29, incombination with the valve means 60, can reduce and maintain the airpressure in the drum 13 at a selected air pressure below the normalatmospheric air pressure drum 13.

If the air pressure inside the drum 13 is reduced to such an extent thatthe latent heat of the wet laundry in combination with the reduced airpressure will cause outside the the moisture in the wet clothes to morereadily evaporate than if the air pressure was not reduced.

Further, the heater element 54 can be turned on whereby the air that isdrawn through the valve means 60 passes over the heater 54 to heat upthe wet laundry so that the moisture in the wet laundry more readilytends to evaporate in the reduced atmosphere produced in the drum 13.

Thus, as the moisture is being continuously withdrawn or sucked from thewet laundry by the suction means 29, the suction means 29 alsocooperates with the valve means 60 to reduce and maintain the airpressure in the drum 13 at a selected reduced air pressure below thenormal atmospheric air pressure outside the drum 13 to more readilyevaporate the moisture from the wet laundry.

If desired, the suction means 47 can also be operating during this timeto assist the nozzle in reducing the air pressure in the carriage 13.

Altemately, only the suction means 47 can be utilized during the dryingaction whereon the suction means 47 cooperates with the valve means 60to reduce the air pressure in the drum 13 to such an extent that, incombination with either the heated air coming through the valve means 60and over the heater element 54 or the latent heat of the wet laundry,the moisture in the wet laundry tends to readily evaporate and pass outthrough the suction nozzle 47 in the above manner.

If desired, the combination of the heat of the wet laundry and thereduced air pressure can be so arranged that moisture in the wet laundryactually boils at a low temperature that will not adversely affect thelaundry.

Therefore, it can be seen that the method and apparatus of thisinvention not only provides improved means for treating laundry or thelike with water or the like by causing the water to boil or bubble, butalso the method and apparatus of this invention provides improved meansfor removing moisture from wet laundry by a suction action and/or by anevaporative action for drying the laundry.

After the laundry has been dried in the above manner, the operation ofthe machine is terminated and the dry laundry can be removed from thelaundry machine 10 in the conventional manner.

While the above operation of the laundry machine 10 has been describedas being a continuous operation, it is to be understood thateach ofapplicants novel features can be separately used or in variouscombinations thereof in other laundry machines or the like.

For example, applicants drying apparatus need not be utilized with awashing machine and conversely, applicants washing apparatus may not beutilized with a drying machine.

While the laundry machine 10 has been described as completely drying thewet laundry, it is to be understood that the drying operations ofapplicants invention can be utilized merely for removing'enough moisturefrom the wet laundry thereof for the desired purpose whereby theconventional centrifuging operation can be eliminated.

Another embodiment of this invention is generally indicated by thereference numeral 10A and parts thereof similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 1 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by thereference letter A.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 the pipe 32A has a solenoid operated valve 100,which, when energized during the wash cycle, prevents the outflow fromthe suction means 30A from passing beyond the valve means and directsthe outflow of the suction means 30A into a pipe 101 leading to thedrain pipe 52A above the valve means 53A, the pipe 101 having a filtermeans 102 therein. When the valve 100 is de-energized, the valve closesthe pipe 101 from the outflow of the suction means 30A and permits theoutflow from the suction means 30A to pass beyond the valve means 100into the pipe 32A for the moisture removal cycle previously described.

When the machine 10A is being utilized in the wash cycle thereof, thesuction means 30A is turned on and the valve means 100 is energizedwhereby the suction means causes a large volume of the body of washwater in the confining means 13A to be drawn through the laundry on theforaminous carriage 17A and through the foraminous carriage 17A into thenozzle inlet means 29A and suction means 30A and, by means of the valvemeans 100, through the pipe 101 and filter 102 back to the confiningmeans 13A because the valve means 53A is closed below the pipe 101 atthe drain pipe 52A.

In this manner, the suction means 30A causes the wash water tothoroughly wash the laundry as the carriage 17A is rotating because alarge volume of wash water is being forced through the laundry into thealigned nozzle means 29A, the filter 102 removing dirt and lint from thewash water before it is returned to the confining means 13A. This washcycle can also be accomplished with the other features of the washingoperation of the machine 10 previously described. Of course, the rinsingoperation could be the same for the machine 10A as the described washcycle therefor.

When the machine 10A performs its moisture removal cycle, the valvemeans 100 is de-energized and the valve 53A is opened whereby the bodyof liquid drains out of the confining means 13A through the pipe 36A.Thereafter, the suction means 30A is utilized in the same manner as thesuction means 30 previously described for the moisture removal and/ordrying operation for the wet laundry remaining in the confining means13A.

While the apparatus 10 and 10A are previously described as relying onthe large volume of air being drawn through the laundry and foraminousportions 17 and 17A into the nozzle inlet means 29 and 29A to remove themoisture from the laundry for a drying operation, it is to be understoodthat such moisture removal portion can be assisted by an electrostaticfeature of this invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the motor means 23 of FIG. 2 is illustratedschematically in FIG. 1 for rotating a shaft means 100 of the apparatus10 that is interconnected to the end wall 101 of the foraminous carriage17 so as to be in electrical conductive relationship with the carriage17 while being electrically insulated from its surrounding tub l3 andframe means 11 as well as from the motor 23 as will be apparenthereinafter.

The shaft 100 rotates an electrostatic machine or apparatus 102 inunison with its rotation of the foraminous drum 17 whereby theelectrostatic device 102 creates a differential between two terminalmeans 103 and 104' thereof when the shaft 100 is rotated by the motor 23in a manner well known in the art.

A switch blade 104 is electrically interconnected to the terminal 103 ofthe electrostatic device 102 and is adapted to be moved betweenterminals 105 and 106, the terminal 106 being interconnected to theground by a lead 107 and the terminal 105 being interconnected to theconductive portion of the shaft 100 by a lead 108.

Another switch blade 109 is provided and is electrically interconnectedby a lead 110 to an electrode means inside the suction nozzle means 29,such as the electrode means 111 of FIG. 4 or electrode means 112 of FIG.5. The switch blade 109 is movable between the terminal 104' of theelectrostatic machine 102 and a terminal 113 interconnected to ground bya lead 114.

The electrode means 111 for the nozzle means 29 of FIG. 4 is recessedbelow the opened end 114 thereof and extends completely around theinside peripheral surface 115 thereof, the electrode 111 beingcompletely electrically insulated from the nozzle means 29 in anysuitable manner, such as by forming the nozzle means 29 from anon-conductive material. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, theelectrode 112 is disposed centrally in the open end 114A of the nozzle29 while being recessed below the open end 1 14A and also being suitablyelectrically insulated from the nozzle means 29 of the supporting leadmeans 110.

If desired, the electrode means 111 and 112 can comprise one or moreelectrodes, be pointed or shaped other than illustrated, and can beinsulated in the manner set forth in the aforementioned co-pending U.S.Pat. applications, Ser. No. 748,298, Ser. No. 769,155 and Ser. No.807,539, to prevent grounding thereof by the removed moisture.

The operation of the apparatus utilizing the electrostatic means 102will now be described in connection with a drying operation.

After the laundry has been washed in the manner previously described andthe body of treating liquid has been removed through the drain 52 in themanner previously described, the drum 17 is rotated by the motor 23 andtumbles the laundry in the drum 17 while the pump 30 is being operatedto tend to draw a large volume of fluid through the laundry andforaminous surface l7 into the nozzle inlet means 29 for the dryingoperation previously described. 7

During this drying operation, the switch blades 109 and 104 are eithermanually or automatically moved from their respective ground terminals113 and 106 against the terminals 104 and 105 to create a potentialdifferential between the drum 17 and the electrode means 111 or 112 ofthe suction nozzle means 29. Be-

same comes into contact with the drum 17 so that a relatively largepotential differential is created between the moisture in the layer oflaundry disposed against the drum l7 and the electrode 111 or 112 of thenozzle means 29 when that particular layer of laundry comes intoalignment with the nozzle inlet opening 114 or 114A to cause themoisture to pass from the laundry through the foraminous surface 17 intothe nozzle inlet means 29.

Of course, in the above operation of the apparatus 10, when utilizingthe electrostatic device 102, the electrostatic device could stillcreate such potential differential with only the switch blade 109disposed against the terminal 104' and the switch' blade 104 beingconnected to the terminal 106 leading to the ground so that the drum 17need not be charged by the electrostatic device 102 to still accomplishthe electrostatic moisture removal operation set forth above. Also, thecarriage or drum 17 could be connected to ground during the time theelectrode means 111 or 112 are being charged for their moisture removaloperation.

In addition, such electrostatic moisture removal operation can takeplace while the interior of the casing 13- is at subatmosphericcondition as previously described.

While the apparatus 10 has been described as requiring or utilizing theelectrostatic device 102 in combination with the suction pump 30, it maybe found that the suction means 30 can be completely eliminated and thatmoisture removal can be provided solely by electrostatic means.

For example, another embodiment of this invention is generally indicatedby the reference numeral 10B in FIG. 6 and parts thereof similar to theapparatus 10 of FIG. 1 are indicated by like reference numerals followedby the reference letter B.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the foraminous drum 17B is rotated by theelectric motor means 23B which also drives the electrostatic device 1023in'the manner previously described and being adapted to have itsterminals 104'B and 105B respectively interconnected to an electrodemeans 111B and the foraminous drum 178 by switch blades 1098 and 1048,the electrde means 111B being one or more electrodes suitably shaped andinsulated or uninsulated', as desired However, the electrode means 1118is not disposed in a nozzle means 29 in the manner previously describedand can merely comprise a relatively large plate as illustrated orshaped otherwise while being disposed closely adjacent the rotating drum178. The switch cause a potential difierential now exists between theelectrode 111 or 112 of the nozzle means 29 and the moisture in thelaundry being tumbled in the rotating drum 17, not only does the largevolume of air being directed into the nozzle inlet means 29 through thelaundry and foraminous portion 17 by the pump 30 cause the moisture inthe laundry to enter the nozzle inlet means 29 in the manner previouslydescribed, but also the potential differential between the moisture inthe laundry and the electrode 111 or 112 of the nozzle means 29 causesthe moisture to enter the nozzle means 29 in a manner believed to be ata faster rate than if the electrostatic device 102 was not utilized.

Further, by providing the foraminous drum 17 with a potential by theelectrostatic device 102, such potential is also created for themoisture in the laundry as the blades 10913 and 1048 are adapted to becycled in uni-' son between the terminals 1138 and 10613 leading'toground and the terminals 104'B and 1058 leading to the electrostaticdevice 1028 by a camming arrangement 115 driven by the motor means 228.

In this manner, both the electrode means 1118 and drum 178 will becycled by the cam means 115 to ground and to the electrostatic device1028 to respectively have a like potential and a potential differential.

If desired, the cam 115 and its connection to switch blade 1048 may bemodified to maintain the switch blade 1043 connected to its groundcontact 106B at all times while moving or cycling switch blade 1098between the stationary contacts 1138 and 104B. This would also cause apotential differential between the clothes in the drum 178 at groundpotential and the charged plate means 1118 when such plate means 1118 ischarged by contact 104B.

When the plate 1118 is cycled to the ground, any moisture being retainedthereon by the charged plate 1118 would immediately run off the same bygravity and pass out of the tub 13B through the drain means 523.However, when the potential differential is created between the plate1118 and the moisture in the laundry being tumbled by the rotating drum178, such potential differential causes the moisture in the tumbledlaundry to be attracted to the plate 111B and pass out of the laundryand through the drum 173 as the laundry comes into alignment with theplate 111B.

Therefore, it can be seen that the improved features of this inventionare to utilize either an electrostatic means by itself to removemoisture from wet laundry or the like or in combination with a suctiondevice that also removes the moisture by tending to draw a large volumeof air through the laundry and into a suction nozzle means. Also, it maybe found that when the suction nozzle means is utilized in combinationwith the electrostatic means, the suction power required may be lessthan without the electrostatic means and the nozzle means may not berequired to be in sealed relation with the drum, but only closelyadjacent thereto whereby no friction or nozzle wear-out problems willexist.

As previously stated, one of the features of this Continuation-in-partapplication is to illustrate, describe and claim how certain of thepreviously described electrostatic features for removing liquid frommoisturebearing material can be readily utilized in improving thetreating of liquid or moisture bearing materials to remove such liquidor moisture for the purpose of dehydrating food materials, papermaterials or other ma terials containing such liquid or moisture, asshown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

FIGS. 7., 8 and 9 are sometimes specifically described in connectionwith the makingof paper from paper slurry. However, the illustrations inFIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are also applicable to the treating of liquid ormoisture bearing materials, such as for the purpose of dehydrating foodmaterials or other materials, as well as for the making of paper and thelike.

As an example of using pulverized, granulated, shredded, or originallycomminuted liquid and moisture bearing food materials, such materialsmay be fed on a screen or belt, with or without another supporting film,band or tape to be subjected to electrostatic forces disclosed in FIGS.7, 8 and 9. I

As another example of other pulverized, granulated, shredded ororiginally comminuted liquid and moisture bearingmaterials, suchmaterials may be obtained or used in industrial processes such as inmining operations. These bearing materials may be placed directly on thescreen and be discharged into a hopper or the like or may be placed on apervious band carried by the screen from which the pervious band withthe treated material may be rolled up or folded for future use.

Therefore, reference is now made to FIG. 7 wherein an improved papermaking apparatus (or food material dehydrating apparatus, etc.) of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 200 andcomprises a continuously moving foraminous belt means 201 for receivingmetered quantities of a paper slurry 202 (or food material, etc.) from asupply means 203 thereof onto the side 204 to be carried insubstantially sheet form from left to right and have the liquid thereinremoved by improved drying means, generally indicated by the referencenumeral 205, of this invention so that the dried resulting paper sheetmeans 206 (or dehydrated food material, etc.) can be continuously drawnoff the right hand end of the foraminous belt means 210 into a hopper orthe like to receive the dehydrated food, or to form a supply coil 207 ofdehydrated food, or paper and the like in a conventional manner.

While the continuously moving belt means 201 can be arranged in anysuitable manner to carry the slurry 202 in sheet form or in individualsheet forms from the supply means 203 to the right, the arrangementillustrated in FIG. 7 comprises a continuous foraminous belt means 201directed around suitable guide roller means 208 and being continuouslydriven in a clockwise direction by any suitable driving means (notshown).

The under surface 209 of the foraminous belt means 201 is adapted topass over and in sliding contact with a plurality of conventionalsuction box means 210 which have the chambers 211 thereof fluidlyinterconnected to the inlet side 212 of a vacuum pump means 213 bysuitable conduit means 214 whereby the suction created in the chambers211 of the box means 210 acts through the foraminous belt means 209 atopening means 215 in the tops 216 of the box means 210 to tend to drawliquid out of the moving paper slurry sheet means 206 through theforaminous belt means 201 and into the inlet side 212 of the pump means213 so as to be expelled out the outlet side 217 thereof.

In each suction box means 210 adjacent the top 216 thereof, but inspaced relation therefrom, is disposed an electrode means 218 adapted tohave one potential imposed thereon by an electrostatic device 219interconnected thereto by lead means 220 in substantially the samemanner as the electrostatic creating means previously described;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 each disclose diagrammatically a complete paper makingapparatus and method.

For example, in FIG. 7, (and correspondingly in FIGS. 8 and 9) part ofthe belt means 201 extending from the supply means 203 to the firstsuction box 210 may be the part of the paper making apparatus whichgravitationally drains the major part of the liquid from the slurry andalso may include the further liquid removing and squeezing roll part ofthe paper making machines now being used. The suction box part 210 ofFIG. 7 is a diagrammatic disclosure of the electrostatic treating meanswhich may be substituted for all or part of the moisture heating andevaporating part of the previous paper making apparatus and methodswhich follow such major gravitational and squeezing liquid removingactions.

The electrodes of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 may be protected from the electricshorting action of liquid by any of the electrode protecting and/orinsulating means disclosed in the copending U.S. Pat. applications, Ser.Nos. 748,298; 769,155 and 807,539. Also, the non-uniform electrostaticfield action disclosed in such copending applications may be used, ifdesired.

The screen or belt 201 of FIG. 7 (and correspondingly in FIGS. 8 and 9)may be grounded, ungrounded or charged in any desired manner to producean electrostatic differential. Such screen or belt may be made ofinsulating material or of conductive material. The

moisture or liquid bearing material may be charged, grounded or neutral.

Thus, it can be seen that by creating a potential differential betweenthe liquid in the paper sheet slurry 206 of FIG. 7 (and correspondinglyof FIGS. 8 and 9) passing over the electrode means 218 and the suctionbox means 210, such potential differential tends to draw such liquidfrom the sheet slurry 206 through the foraminous belt means 201 and intothe suction box means 210 toward the electrode means 218 whereby suchelectrostatic principle assists the suction means 213 in removing themoisture from the paper slurry means 206 in a believed to be fasterand/orimproved manner than when the electrode means 218 are notutilized.

It is believed that such potential differential liquid removingoperation of the electrode means 218 can be further improved by havingan opposite potential imposed on the liquid in the moisture bearingmaterial 206 while the same is being supported on the side 204 of themoving foraminous belt means 201.

FOr example, the other potential being created by the electrostaticmeans 219 can be imposed directly in the paper slurry 202 in the supplymeans 203 by a lead means 221 so that when the paper slurry 206 isdeposited on the side 204 of the foraminous belt means 201, the liquidtherein has one potential so that when the same moves over the suctionbox means 210, the opposite potential on the electrode means 218 willmore fully attract the liquid in the paper slurry 201 to tend to drawthe same through the foraminous belt means 201 into the suction boxmeans 210.

Alternately, or in combination, rotatable electrode means 222 can beinterconnected to the lead 221 of the electrostatic device 219 by a lead223 so that a potential opposite to the potential being imposed on theelectrode means 218 by the electrostatic device 219 can be imposeddirectly on the belt means 201, if the belt means 201 is formed ofconductive material, such as being metallic foraminous belt means or thelike. In this manner the foraminous belt means 201 will have a potentialimposed thereon which is opposite to the potential imposed on theelectrode means 218.

If the electrode 222 is utilized in combination with the foraminous beltmeans 201 and the electrostatic device 219 does not impose a potentialin the liquid of the I slurry 202 in the supply means 203, it can beseen that the liquid in the slurry 202 in the supply means 203 will besubstantially at ground potential and after the same is deposited on theside 204 of the moving belt means 201, the potential imposed on the beltmeans 201 by the electrode means 222 will tend to cause the liquid inthe paper slurry sheet means 206 to be drawn toward the belt means 201and have the potential of the belt means 201 imposed thereon at a pointadjacent the belt means 201 where it contacts the drawn liquid wherebythe opposite potential on the electrode means 218 will thereafterattract the liquid adjacent the belt means 201 through the belt means201 into the suction box means 210.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the paper making apparatus and method200 of FIG. 7 provides improved means for drying or removing the liquidin paper slurry and the other bearing materials heretofore describedFurther, while the embodiment of FIG. 7 has been specifically describedas a paper making apparatus, it is to be understood that such apparatuscould be other apparatus that forms members from liquid or moisturebearming materials elsewhere described that are to be subsequently driedby having the liquid removed therefrom.

While the paper making apparatus and method 200 previously described forthe embodiment of FIG. 7 utilizes the electrode means 218 in combinationwith suction box means 210 in removing the liquid from the paper slurry206 through the foraminous belt means 201 to the other side 209 thereof,it is to be understood that it may be found that the electrode means 218can be utilized without such suction means and effectively remove themoisture from the paper slurry 206 in such a manner that no air flow isprovided through the paper slurry during the drying operation so that animproved paper is made, such as by not having a need for a subsequentrolling of the same and/or by providing an improved surface or sidesthereof that cannot be provided when a suction means is utilizedthereon.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 8 wherein another papermakingapparatus of this invention is generally indicated by thereference numeral 300 and parts thereof similar to the apparatus 200previously described are indicated by like reference numerals raised invalue by 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the apparatus 300 is identical to theapparatus 200 previously described except that the apparatus 300 doesnot utilize the suction box means 210 and suction means 213 to assist inthe removing of the liquid from the slurry 303 being moved by theforaminous belt means 301 from left to right as the liquid in the slurrysheet 306 is being drawn therefrom solely by the potential differentialcreated therebetween by the electrostatic device 319 imposing onepotential on the electrode means 318 and imposing an opposite potentialeither on the liquid in the slurry 302 in the supply means 303 and/or onthe foraminous belt means 301 by the electrode means 322 or withoutimposing any opposite potential on the liquid in the slurry by nothaving its lead 321 operatively connected to the paper slurry 306. v

However, it may be found that it is also desirable to provide asqueezing action on the paper sheet means 306 as it passes from left toright over the electrode means 318 to either improve the surface qualityof the resulting sheet means 306 and/or assist in removing the moisturetherefrom so that the resulting sheet means 306 will have the desiredthickness and also the desired upper finish on the upper side thereof.

If so, a continuous metallic belt means 324 can be passed around rollermeans 325 so as to be disposed over the sheet means 306 and beengageable therewith while the lower run of the belt means 324 is movingfrom left to right in unison with the upper run of the belt members 201.By so controlling the position of the electrode means 318 relative tothe moving belt means 301 and in connection with the moving belt means324, an attractive force by the potential differential between the beltmeans 324 and electrode means 318 will be created to tend to pull thebelt means 324 downwardly, as indicated by the arrows 326 in FIG. 8 tocompact the sheet means 306 between the lower run of the belt and whichmay be formed into sheet form either as a continuous sheet or individualsheets, as desired.

means 324 and the foraminous belt means 301 so as to provide an improvedfinishing on the upper side of the sheet means 306 and/or to provide asqueezing action on the sheet means 306 to assist in the liquid removingoperation thereof, or both, as well as to insure a predeterminedthickness of the resulting sheet means 306 being wound on the coil means307.

In order to improve the action of the belt means on the sheet means 306for one or more of the purposes pre-viously described, the electrostaticdevice 319 or another electrostatic device 327 can impose a potential onthe belt means 324 opposite to the potential being imposed on theelectrode means 318, the electrostatic device 327 having a rotatableelectrode 328 disposed in engagement with the belt 324 and beinginterconnected to the electrostatic device 327 by a lead means 329.

Further, it may be found that by having an opposite potential imposed onthe belt means 324 from the potential being imposed on the electrode318, such potential will be imposed on the liquid in the slurry sheet306 coming into contact therewith so that the upper liquid area of theslurry sheet 306 will have an opposite potential to the potential of theelectrode means 318 and therefore be more readily drawn toward theelectrode means 318 than would be the case if such upper'liquid did nothave the opposite potential imposed thereon. In this manner, a thickersheet means 306 could 'be made by the apparatus 300 and the electrodemeans 318 could remove the liquid therefrom solely by the potentialdifferential previously described.

Of course, the belt means 324 couldalso be utilized in combination withthe apparatus 200 previously described and if such belt means wereutilized therewith and it is not desired that the belt means 324 bedrawn into squeezing action with the sheet 206 by the suction meansbeing created by the suction boxes 210, such belt means 324 could beformed of foraminous material so that the same would not impede the flowof air through the sheet means 206 into the suction box means 210.

In forming other types of paper or articles, it may be found that it isdesirable. not to utilize the belt means 324 of the apparatus 300 andto.provide a means for fluffing the paper sheet slurry as the same isbeing dried by the electrostatic principle of this invention.

Accordingly, another embodiment of this invention is generally indicatedby the reference numeral 400 in FIG. 9 and parts thereof similar to theapparatus 200 previousy described are indicated by like referencenumetals raised in value by 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the paper making apparatus 400 issubstantially identical to the apparatus 300 of FIG. 8 wherein theelectrode means 418 are being utilized without the suction box means 210in removing the moisture from the sheet means 406 as the same moves overthe electrode means 418 on the moving belt means 401.

However, another foraminous belt means 430 is passed around a pair ofroller means 431 and has its lower run moving from left to right inunison with the belt means 401 so that the paper sheet means 406 will becarried therebetween. A plurality of suction box means 410, formed in amanner similar to the suction box means 210 presiously described, aredisposed against the upper side of the lower run of the belt means 430to impose a suction on the other side of the sheet means 406 as the samepasses beneath the suction box means 410 whereby the suction device 413,

through the conduit means 414, will not only tend to draw the moistureor liquid in the sheet means 406 upwardly into the chambers 411 and,thus, into the inlet side 412 of the suction device 413, but will alsotend to maintain or fluff the sheet means 406 to a predeterminedthickness while the electrode means 418 is removing the liquid from thesheet means 406 in a downward direction through the moving belt means401 in the manner previously described.

Thus, by using the suction box means 410 in combination with theelectrode means 418, the liquid in the sheet means 406 at the topthereof will be readily removed by the suction box means 410 whereas theother liquid in sheet means 406 will be drawn downwardly by theaforementioned potential differential arrangement and the sheet means406 will have a tendency to be fluffed or maintained in a predeterminedthickness during the drying operation whereby a more fluffy tissue orthe like can be provided by the apparatus 400 of this invention.

Of course, it is to be understood that the apparatus 400 can be utilizedfor making other than fluffy tissue as the principle being disclosed bythe embodiment of FIG. 9 could apply to other types of paper or articlesas desired.

In addition, the suction box means 410 of the apparatus 400 couldinclude electrode means therein similar to the electrode means 218previously described and have imposed thereon a potential opposite tothe potential being imposed on electrode means 418 to further assist thesuction box means 410 in drawing the upper part of the liquid in thesheet means 406 upwardly therefrom through the foraminous belt means 430into the suction box means 410, if desired. In addition, the foraminousbelt means 430 could have such opposite potential imposed thereon in amanner similar to the electrode means 422 for imposing a potential onthe moving belt means 401.

Alternately, the boxes 410 could be supplied fluid under pressure to beforced through the material on the belt means 401 toward the electrodemeans 418 to assist the moisture removing action of the electrode means418.

Also, the boxes 410 could be supplied with another liquid which willpass through the perforations at the bottoms of boxes 410 and throughthe foraminous belt means 430 to be disposed against the moisturebearing material or moisture bearing sheet means 406. At least a part ofsuch other liquid may be moved into the moisture bearing material orsheet means 406 by the electrostatic field action of the electrode means418 to force out or otherwise remove at least a part of the first-namedor original moisture or liquid from the bearing material 406. The fluidmoving device 413 may be used as a pressure device, or may be omitted,so that the other liquid may be introduced either by gravity or pressureinto the box means 410.

Such other liquid may have different properties from the properties ofsuch first-named or original moisture or liquid in material or sheet406. Also, such other liquid may be applied to the material or sheet 406by other means than the boxes 410 and the belt means 430, so that suchother liquid may enter the material or sheet 406 in any desired mannerunder the influence of a potential differential between said otherliquid and the electrode means 418.

Additionally, after such other liquid has been applied or injected intothe material or sheet 406, for example, as by the boxes 410, forexample, such material or sheet 406 may be given further treatment tocause further movement or removal of said other liquid and/or remainingoriginal liquid in said material or sheet 406. For example, the sheet406 as treated by box means 410 and electrode means 418 in FIG. 9 may befurther treated on the rightward continuation or extension of movingbelt'means 401 under which a vacuum or suction and further electrostatictreatment may be applied. This may be provided by the suction box means210 and electrode means 218 of FIG. 7, which box means 210 and electrodemeans 218 could be applied under such rightward continuation orextension of the moving belt means 401 on which the bearing material orsheet 406 can be carried over such added box means 210 and electrodemeans 218. such addition also could include the conduit means 214 andvacuum pump means 213 of FIG. 7.

The combined operation of parts of FIGS. 7 and 9 as above describedcould be used to cause an original conductive liquid, for example, inthe bearing material 406 to be partially or entirely displaced by anonconductive other liquid, for example, injected by the box means 410and electrode means 418 of FIG. 9 into the bearing material 406, andthen the liquid or liquids in the bearing material 406 after leaving thespace under the box means 410 could be further moved in or removed fromthe bearing material 402 by the action of the added box means 210 andelectrode means 218 of FIG. 7. Conversely, the original liquid may benonconductive and the other liquid may be conductive. Also, differentliquids may be used in the combined parts of FIGS. 7 and 9 and suchdifferent liquids could have various viscosities, chemical properties,such as of acrylic acid and its derivatives, for example, reactions andother properties heretofore described.

Various moisture or liquid bearing materials 406, with various originalmoistures or liquids in them, and various other moistures or liquidsadded by the box means 410, for example, may be used, in the apparatusand method of FIG. 9 alone or as modified by parts of FIG. 7 in a newand improved manner.

Therefore, it can be seen that this Continuation-inpart applicationprovides an improved apparatus and method of treating of liquid ormoisture bearing materials, such as for the purpose of dehydrating foodmaterials or other materials as well as for the making of paper and thelike.

While the forms of the invention now preferred have been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removing retained moisture from moisture bearingweb-like material of the moisture absorbing type comprising the steps ofsupporting said moisture bearing material with supporting means,disposing electrode means adjacent said supported material, moving saidsupported material, and creating a substantially constant electrostaticfield action with said electrode means that will be imposed on at leastsome of the retained moisture of said moisture bearing material to causethe same to leave said material solely by the substantially constantelectrostatic field action imposed thereon and while said supportedmaterial is being moved.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of creating saidelectrostatic field action comprises the step of creating an electricalcharge on said electrode means.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of disposing saidelectrode means adjacent said supported material comprises the step ofdisposing said charged electrode means out of electrical contact withsaid moisture bearing material.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said charged electrode meanstends to attract said moisture toward said charged electrode means.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of creating saidelectrostatic field action comprises the step of tending to impose acharge on said retained moisture opposite to the polarity of the chargeon said electrode means.

6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of disposing saidelectrode means adjacent said supported material comprises the step ofdisposing said charged electrode means in electrical contact with saidmoisture bearing material.

7. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of creating saidelectrostatic field action comprises the step of disposing anotherelectrode means adjacent said supported material.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of groundingsaid other electrode means.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 and including the step of causingsaid other electrode means to have a polarity opposite to the polarityof the first mentioned charged electrode means. I

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of changingthe normal absorbed condition of said moisture bearing material duringthe time said electrostatic field action is acting on said moisturebearing ma terial. a I

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step of changing thenormal absorbed condition of said moisture bearing material comprisesthe step of compressing said moisture bearing material.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of compressingcomprises the step of compressing said moisture bearing material againstsaid supporting means.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means iselectrically conductive.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means iselectrically non-conductive.

15. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of chargingat least one of said material and saId retained moisture.

16. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step ofelectrically grounding at least one of said material and said retainedmoisture thereof.

17. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step ofcompressing said moisture bearing material against said supporting meansto tend to assist said electrostatic field action in removing saidretained moisture from said moisture bearing material.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 and including the step of movingsaid supporting means with said moisture bearing material thereon, saidstep of com- 4 pressing said moisture bearing material comprising thestep of moving compressing nieans in substantial unimoisture beingremoved by said electrostatic field action.

21. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of assisting theelectrostatic field action comprises the step of compressing saidsupported material in the direction of the movement of the retainedmoisture being removed by said electrostatic field action.

22. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web-like materialcomprises cloth.

23. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web-like materialcomprises paper. t i IF Dedication 3,757,426.R0bet R. Gander, MiamiTownship; and James T. Gander, Washington Township, Dayton, Ohio. LIQUIDREMOVING METHOD. Patent dated Sept. 11, 1973. Dedication filed Oct. 17,1980, by the inventors. Hereby dedicates to the Public the entire termof said patent.

[Oficial Gazette Decembe1-23,1980]

1. A method for removing retained moisture from moisture bearingweb-like material of the moisture absorbing type comprising the steps ofsupporting said moisture bearing material with supporting means,disposing electrode means adjacent said supported material, moving saidsupported material, and creating a substantially constant electrostaticfield action with said electrode means that will be imposed on at leastsome of the retained moisture of said moisture bearing material to causethe same to leave said material solely by the substantially constantelectrostatic field action imposed thereon and while said supportedmaterial is being moved.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid step of creating said electrostatic field action comprises the stepof creating an electrical charge on said electrode means.
 3. A method asset forth in claim 2 wherein said step of disposing said electrode meansadjacent said supported material comprises the step of disposing saidcharged electrode means out of electrical contact with said moisturebearing material.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidcharged electrode means tends to attract said moisture toward saidcharged electrode means.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid step of creating said electrostatic field action comprises the stepof tending to impose a charge on said retained moisture opposite to thepolarity of the charge on said electrode means.
 6. A method as set forthin claim 2 wherein said step of disposing said electrode means adjacentsaid supported material comprises the step of disposing said chargedelectrode means in electrical contact with said moisture bearingmaterial.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step ofcreating said electrostatic field action comprises the step of disposinganother electrode means adjacent said supported materiAl.
 8. A method asset forth in claim 7 and including the step of grounding said otherelectrode means.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 7 and including thestep of causing said other electrode means to have a polarity oppositeto the polarity of the first mentioned charged electrode means.
 10. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of changing thenormal absorbed condition of said moisture bearing material during thetime said electrostatic field action is acting on said moisture bearingmaterial.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said step ofchanging the normal absorbed condition of said moisture bearing materialcomprises the step of compressing said moisture bearing material.
 12. Amethod as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of compressingcomprises the step of compressing said moisture bearing material againstsaid supporting means.
 13. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidsupport means is electrically conductive.
 14. A method as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said support means is electrically non-conductive.
 15. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of charging atleast one of said material and saId retained moisture.
 16. A method asset forth in claim 1 and including the step of electrically grounding atleast one of said material and said retained moisture thereof.
 17. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 and including the step of compressingsaid moisture bearing material against said supporting means to tend toassist said electrostatic field action in removing said retainedmoisture from said moisture bearing material.
 18. A method as set forthin claim 17 and including the step of moving said supporting means withsaid moisture bearing material thereon, said step of compressing saidmoisture bearing material comprising the step of moving compressingmeans in substantial unison with said supporting means whereby saidmoisture bearing material is being compressed between said compressingmeans and said supporting means during movement of said supportingmeans.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 1 and including the step ofassisting the electrostatic field action in causing at least some of theretained moisture to leave said material.
 20. A method as set forth inclaim 19 wherein said step of assisting the electrostatic fieldcomprises the step of creating a fluid flow through said supportedmaterial in the direction of the movement of the retained moisture beingremoved by said electrostatic field action.
 21. A method as set forth inclaim 19 wherein said step of assisting the electrostatic field actioncomprises the step of compressing said supported material in thedirection of the movement of the retained moisture being removed by saidelectrostatic field action.
 22. A method as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid web-like material comprises cloth.
 23. A method as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said web-like material comprises paper.